Sand and gravel washer



Oct. 18, 1927.

19.21l :s sheets-slieet 1 s. A. LoFTUs ET AL SAND AND @RAVEL wAs'HERFiled oo t.

.12, gli 7 Oct. 18, 1927.

M f. @Ma/ 1,645,603 s. A. Lor-"rus ET AL SAND AND GRAVEL WASHER FiledOct. 3l. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 oct. is, 1927.

s. A. LoFTus ET A.

SAND AND GRAVEL WASHER Filed Oct. 51, 1921 3 SheetsfSheet 5 PatentedGet. 18, 1927.

:Unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SEBASTIAN A. LOFTUS AND THOMAS CURETON, 0F DAYKTON, OHIO; SAID LOFTUSAS- SIGNOR T0 SAID THOMAS CURETON AND SAMUEL CURETON, 0F PLYMOUTH, OHIO.

SAND AND GRAVEL WASHER.

This invention relates to machinery tor separating n'iaterials7 and moreparticularly to that type of machinery known as sand and gravel washers.

On'eotthe principal objects of the invention is to provide apparatus forthe washing, screeningand separating ot sand and gravel, and similarmaterial, ywhich is etlicient, easy of operation and maintenance,

` and simple inrits construction.

Other objects and4 .advantages of the invention will be yapparent 'fromthe description thereot set-out below, when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing. ln the drawing, in which like characters oi'reference designate like parts throughout the several views thereof :l

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, ot a sandand gravel washer embodying the invent-ion;

Fig; 2 is a 'plan view of the apparatus shown in 1;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view along the line 3m?, oft Fig. 1, looking inthe direction ot the' arrows; Y f

F l is a view in elevation of one of the buckets forming a part ot theapparatus, the view being in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5;f

Fig. is a sectional view through the buckets shown in Fig. 4, along theline 5-5 thereof, looking in thek direction of the arrows;

Fic'. G is a sectional view through theapp: tus along the line 6,-6 otFig. 1.

cable to the separating ot' materials, 'tor purposes ot description, andas settingout a. preferred 'embodiment thereof, it is shown innonnectionwith apparatus particularly designed tor the separation ot sand andgravel. ylt is a general practice towsubject4 `while this invention isgenerally appli-r One end of this drum has a head 11 secured therein, inwhich is provided an opening 12, through which the sand and gravel to betreated is introduced into the drum. The

opening 12 is preferably surrounded by an inclined `flange 13, and,inasmuch asthisy flange serves as the oversflow for the water introducedlinto the drum during the wash# nig operation, it is made ot sucheiiective -width that a suitable quantity of water is at all ,timespresent in the drum. Any desired type ot apparatus torleading away thewater which escapes over the lip of the fla-nge 13 may be provided,-and, since this particular part oi` theV installed apparatus maybe oi'any conventional character,1 no

specitc construction thereof is shown.

The sand and gravel to be treated is introduced into the rotatable'drum10 by means or the feed hopper 15, the sand and gravel' being suppliedto this hopper by hand, or by means otv any suitable conveyingapparatus.As illustrated in Figs.' 1 and 2, this hopper has its lower wall 16inclined at such an angle thatthe material introduced thereinto willreadily slide along this lower wall, and this lower wall is extended, asshown at 17, to form a. discharge spout, which, when lthe device isassemblecheiztends into the opening y12, so that material'supplied to.the'hopper 15 will bedischarged J from this spout' intothe interior otthe drum 10. In order to control the rate of discharge trom` the hopper,and to also control the positioning of the discharge spout relative tothe water within the drum 10 this'teeding apparatus is made adjustable.The upperv portion oit the hopper is yprovided with lanA arcuate slot18, constructed to receive a supportingbolt y19, carried by anupstanding standard 20, the lower end of which is rig- *idly secured toone ot the side members 21 'of the trame upon Vwhich vthe entireapparatus is mounted. Extending transversely between thetwo members 2Ois a cross bar Q2, through which passes one end of the bolt.v Y 23,which is p ivotally attached to the extension 24 carried bythe lower endof the hopper or discharge spout, suitable adjusting nutsv 25 beingprovided upon this bolt.

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double adjustment of the hopper and discharge spout is thus providedfor. By vary ing the position of the supporting bolt 19 within thearcuate slot 1S, the hopper may be swung about the point of pivotalconnection of the bolt 23 to the member 24e to increase or decrease theangle'iof inclination of the bottom 16, of this hopper. By propermanipulation of the adjusting nuts 25, the position of the bolt 19within the arcuate slot 18 remaining constant, the lower end of thehopper may be swung about the bolt 19 as a pivot. By properlymanipulating both of these adjustments the hopper may be` moved bodilywithout any variation in its angular positioning, or it may be movedboth bodily and its angular positioning varied at the same time. Thistype of adjustment is particularly useful in that the angularpositioning of the hopper may be varied as desired, and the positioningof the discharge' spout relative to the water. within the drum Y 10 atthe same time so maintained as `to minimize splashing due to theintroduction of the material into the drum.

Attached to the drum, and positioned interiorly thereof, are buckets 26,these buckets being arranged throughout thelength of the interior of thedrum in series of three. .As the drum rotates the material therein iscaught up by these buckets, moved through the water in the lower part ofthe drum, to effect a washing of such material, and then carriedupwardly in the buckets from which. while the buckets are in elevatedposition, the material slides, being at the same time fed forward tobringl it into the zone of the next succeeding series of buckets, wherethe operation is repeated. rotatable drum is thusmoved along the drinnfrom one end to the other, being washed as it travels, so that dirt isseparated from the sand and gravel, or whatever other material may betreated, the gravel being discharged through one end of the drum, ywhilethe dirt or loam, originally admixed with the sand and gravel, scarriedout through the other end with the overflowingr wash water.

The arrangement and construction of these buckets 26 is clearly shown inFigs. 3, ll and 5. As shown, in Fig. 3 the buckets are arranged aroundthe drum at distances of substantially 120O from each other, threebuckets being employed. Of course the number of buckets in any seriesmaybe varied as Vde-` sired, to suit any particular size of drum.

VEach of these buckets consists of two end plates 27, each of which isshaped to correspond with the curvature of theA drum 10. and providedwith cross pieces 28 and 29 which pieces are suitably curvedI andconstructed. for rigid attachment to the shell of the drum. As shownthese buckets are riveted to the drum, but other means of at- Thematerial within the,

tioned between the end plates 27 is a plate 30 one edge of whichterminates a considerable distance from the shell of the drum, to thusleave a free opening, designated generally bythe numeral 31, within thebucket, the other end being extended beyond the end plates 27, andcurled upon itself to form an inclined trough-like portion or spout, atthat end of the bucket remote from the shell of the drum, and designatedgenerally by the numeral 32. Attached to the cross piece 29 is anupstanding flange or baille 33, which extends entirely across thebucket. These buckets are so constructed and attached to the drum 10that as the druml rotates the buckets are carried thereby. As shown inFig 3 the drum `is in such position that one of the buckets is justreaching its lowest po` sition. The construction of the buckets is suchthat as the drum rotates, carrying the buckets through lower position,each bucket is free to pass through the water, and the sand and gravelcontained therein, except,

for the baille or flange 33. As the drum rotates this flange 33 carriesthe sand and.

gravel with it through the water, which is free to pass over this bafflewhile the sand and gravel are not. A positive. movement of the sand andgravel through the water is thus secured to give a maximum washingeffect. As the drum continues to rotate the sand and gravel in advanceof the flange 33 will be picked up thereby and carried up* wardly until,as the rotation continues, it will drop off the flange 33- onto themember 30 whence, during further rotation, it will slide down into theinclined trough-like portion from which it will slide to fall back tothe bottom of the drum. Thorough agitation of the sand and gravel isthus secured. As shown particularly in Fig. l, these drums are soarranged and the inclination of the trough-like portions is such thatthe material as it slides therefrom will be caused to travel lengthwise'of the drum, and will be advanced into the zone of the next succeeding`series of buckets to cause it to be taken up. as rotation of the drumcontinues, by the buckets in that next series. The construction of thebuckets is such that the material ltherein will not slide out until theyhave reached substantially uppermost position, and as seen from Fig. 3when the buckets are in this uppermost position the material which fallsfrom them will drop directly into the water in the bottom of the drum.Unless this arrangement of the buckets is secured the material fallingtherefrom, even though it is properly advanced, may fall upon the drum,above the water level, where it would be caught up by the nextsucceedingbucket and carried upwardly without really beingI moved bodilythrough the wash water.

In the construction shown the material to be washed is introducedIthrough one end-0f (itl the drum and is caused to travel throughout thelength of the drum being discharged through the opposite end thereof,the wash water, with its load of removed dirtpassing out through thesame end of the drum through which the material is introducedM Thedischarge endof the drum is provided witha head 35, attached in anydesired man ner tothe di.um,`which head is provided, as shown mostclearly in Fig. 6 with three openings 36 therein, each oi' whichopeningsv the neii smallest size desired and the screen 39 havingopenings of a still sinallerfsize so that four sizes of material may bethus secured. Conveyor' troughs 40 through which the sized material isled away to any desired place are provided, whicht-rouglis are shown ina purely conventional manner since they may be of any desiredconstruction. Preterably the head 35 is provided with integral flanges,designated generally by the numeral 41, to which the screens areattached, in any suitable manner, as by means oif'bolts,rasv shown. Anyother suitable screen mounting may be used. Each of t-he dischargeopenings 36 is provided with a curved flange 42, shown in dotted line inFig. `6, adapted` to receive thev discharge end of thev bucketcooperating` `with that discharge opening,V` the purpose of this flangebeing to prevent the `back flow of material `from the buckets into thedrum, as this material is discharged'onto the sizing screens, f

The closure member 35 is provided with a centrally arranged bearingmember 45 adapted to receive and support a water supy ply pipe 4G. Thepassage throught-he bearing is coaxialwith therotary drum l0 so that thedrum rotates about the water supply pipe. l able distance intothe drumlOand' is provided with a plurality of 'openings 47' through which watersprayed into the' This water is, Aduring operation of' the device,continuously introduced, a bodyy drum.

of Water thus being maintained in the botof the flange 13 carrying outthe dirtre# moved from the gravel.l In order to prevent sand, :and thelike, from working-into the bearing 45 and cutting it out, the linnerendThis pipe 46 extends a consider-v ot this bearing is provided with akgroove 48,

the pipelbeing provided with an openingr` 49, positioned within this.groove, so that Y during operation of t-he device water is continuouslysprayed into this groove to wash out any sand which tends to accumulatethere;

A partition 50, having a centrally arranged opening therein, is provided`about ii'iidway of the druin to preventthe flowing water from carryingthe line washed sand,

in suspension therein, .out with the removed fdirt.` V 7 i AThe drum l0is provided, adjacent each end, with a ring 55. Each of the ringscarries thereon a circular tracko', and `a ring gear 57. Suitablyattached 'to the members 2l of the trame are two cross members 58, eachoi which is provided with upstand` ingarins 459. Journaled in each pairof the upstanding arms 59, valong one -side of the rifaine, is a stubshaft or spindle 6() upon eachefl which is mounted acombined roller andpinion 6l, the roller'being -flanged and adapted to cooperate with thetrack ring 56, and the pinion being adapted to mesh with the ring gear57. J ouriialedv in the two pair oi upstanding arms 59, along the otherside of the frame is a. shaft-'62, which has mounted 'at each endthereof a combined roller and pinion G3, identical in construction withthe roller and pinion described. The shaft 62 also has mounted thereon abeveled gear 64,

adaptedto niesh withk a corresponding bevy eledgear 65 carriediupon oneend of the mounted `thereon a 'pulley constructed for belt driveattachment 'to some .suitable source of power.

AsY the pulley' 6,7 isrOtated from the power source, the Vshaft 62' iscorrespondingshaft 62 willi cause 'rotation of the drum upon theserollers. In practice' the rollers sometimes .tend lto bind or'stick..iorone reason or another, and as a result sliding. rather than rollingmotion, occurs between jtl'ie'itrack rings andthe cooperating rollers.

drive shaft the other end of which has In'orderto .overcome this andtoinsure rolling Contact of these various memberseach .of the drivepinions is rigidly attached to' one lof Vvthe rollers. And` in each ofthe l*members 6l thel roller is 'rigi'dlyattachedf `tto the pinion whichmeshes` with thering I gear and functions as an idler pinion so that tomof thedrum, the overflow over the 'lipk these'two/ rollers are alsoconstrained to. ro-

ytateduring `operation of the device atthe rality of openings 70, withinthat portion" which cooperates with the screens, through which water issprayed onto the material discharged from the drum to assist in completeseparation and screening of such material.

lVhile the form of apparatus herein described constitutes preferredembodiments of the invention, itis to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made in either without departing from the scope of the inventionwhich is definedin the appended claims.

lhat is claimed is:

l. In' sand and gravel washers, and the like, the combination with arotatable drum, having an inlet opening at one end and an outlet openingat the other end thereof; means for introducing into the drum, throughthe inlet opening thereof, t-he sand and gravel to be washed andseparated; means for continuously 'supplying water to the drum duringoperation of the apparatus, to maintain a predetermined quantity ofwater in the drum; and a plurality of buckets in said drum, arrangedginsuccessive series. each of said buckets being open adjacent t-he shellof the drum and having a battle member therein so arranged andLconstructed as to, during rotation of the drum, prevent passage of sandand gravel through said bucket while allowing VfreeV elevated position.is dropped from the baffle into the inclined spout, from which it of thedrum,the other end having attached thereto an inclined spout one end" ofwhich is closed' by one of the said end walls, the other end being open,and ya baille plate eX- tending between the end plates and so positionedas to allow free passage of water through the bucket adjacent theshello'f the drum as the drum rotates but to prevent passage of solidmaterial through said bucket.

A 3Q A sand and'grav'el washer' comprising,

in combination, a rotatable drum, having an inlet opening and a separatedischarge opening therein, means for introducing sand and gravel, andthe like, into said drum, means for introducing water into said drum;and a plurality of buckets mounted within said drum each of said bucketscomprising spaced end walls, constructed for attachment at one end tothe interior of the shell of the drum and at the other end havingattached thereto an inclined spout one end of which is closed by one ofthe said end walls, the other end being open, and a baiile'plateextending between the said end pla-tes and so positioned as to allowfree passage of water through the bucket adjacent the shell of the drum,during rotation of said drum, but to at the same time prevent passage ofsolid material through said bucket.

4. In sand and gravel washers, or the like, a rotatable drum constructedto contain the material to be treated, said drumy having an inletopening at one end thereof; an adjustable feeding member having adischarge spout extending through said inlet opening and positionedwithin the inlet opening end of said drum and pivotal means at each endof 'said feeding member, said means being capable of concomitantadjustment to vary the angular inclination of the said discharge spout,without substantially effecting the horizontal 'positioning of the lowerend thereof.

5. In sand and gravel washers, or the like, a drum constructed tocontain the material to be treated, said drum having an inlet opening; afeeding member having a d ischargeV spout-positioned within the saidinlet opening, the upper end of said feeding member having an arcuteslottherein, supportingy pins carried by the frame of the apparatus andpositioned within the said arcuate slots, and a horizontally adjustablepivotal connection between the lower end of the feeding member and thesaid frame.

6.v As an article of manufacture, a. bucket for use in'sand and gravelwashers, of'that `kind in which the sand and gravel lis agitated with abody of water maintained within al rotatable drum, said bucketcomprising spaced end wallsconstructed for attachment, at one end to theinterior of the end of the drum, the other end having attached thereto7.A sand and gravel washer of thev character described, comprising'arotatable drum, means for supplying the material to be washed throughonerend of the drum, j

means for supplying Water to the drum, to

effect Washing of said material, and a pluing the sand and gravel frommovement rality ogt buckets carried upon the inner side through thebucket at the same time.

of said drum, each of said buckets having an In testimony whereof Wehereto affix our 10 opening therethrough permitting free passignatures.

sage of the Water Within the drum through the bucket as the drumrotates, and means SEBASTIAN A. LOFTUS. cooperating with said openingfor restrain- THOMAS CURETON.

